"Jackie wake uppppppp."

"Meeehhhh... why so early?" I moan, still keeping my eyes closed, but knowing that it is early morning, and know that she is sitting ontop of me.

"Because, I want to go to visit the city while we are here."

"Can't you just leave me here and sleep?"

"No, can't leave any Pokemon in the room if the trainer or whoever checked the room it is out."

"Can't you put me in the Pokeball so I can sleep more?"

"Yeah, I can, but Peter said that Natalia missed you, and besides, with the storm here, I rather have more around than just him."

"Uhhh, fine, I'm getting up, get off of me."

With her getting off of me, I rub my eyes open, and first thing I do is look out the window from where I lie. It's raining, winds blowing the tops of the tree around, and skies a bit darker than usual; either the storm is yet to come, or it's that early in the morning.

Great, time to get my fur all wet now.

"Abbie, come on now, I know you aren't affected by rain."

With a huff, I roll of the bed, and see that Abbie is having troubles getting up too. Also taking a look at the clock, reading 6:00 AM.

"And why are we up early again? Thought we agreed last night that we wouldn't travel in the rain.

"Well I told you, look through the city, doing some shopping at some good stores here for both humans and Pokemon. Thinking about getting a bow or something would be nice."

"I hate bows," Abbie mutters.

"Well, seeing that you two are pretty much up, let's get some breakfast, Peter told me to meet him there around this time."

Groggily getting up to me feet, I lean against Abbie, as we head to the cafeteria. With the both of us still tired, while as Caitlyn is energetic as ever. I instantly get shocked by something, making me wake up completely.

"Come on, it's only six o'clock in the morning, you can't be that tired."

"Well sorry for chasing after someone nearly all day yesterday."

"Thought you were always on the run, wouldn't that mean you have to get early?"

"I wasn't always on the run. More like in hiding rather."

"Same thing."

"And why aren't you with your trainer?

"Because he's coming," she looks behind her.

"Well good for you, I'm guessing that we're following you to the gym first?"

"How did you know that, hmm?"

"Well for one, we had to wake up early, and two considering it's a city, and more trainers here than pretty much anywhere else," I yawn, "Though why did I have to come too?"

"You guys didn't have to, we could've met up with you later."

"Caitlyn!!!"

"What, Jackie? Did she hurt you?"

"No, but did we have to come out this early?"

"No, but I wanted to. To see Peter challenge the city's gym leader."

"Can I be put into the Pokeball now?"

"Why? Aren't you going to eat breakfast? Also, morning Peter," she waves to him, as he runs to us.

"Natalia, how many times do I have to tell you to wait up for me? Morning, Caitlyn."

"But I thought you were behind me."

"She says that she thought you left her behind," I tell him, and getting a small shock for it.

"Well why would I leave such a good behaving Luxray, isn't that right Natalia," he scratches Natalia's head, while she secretly sticks her tongue at me.

Rolling my eyes, I follow Caitlyn to the cafeteria line, helping to get the food. Returning to the spot which Peter chooses, he has already released the rest of his Pokemon, all waiting on us with the food. Lowering the food down for the others, I 'accidently' nudge Natalia's bowl as she nears the illusion of the bowl in the same place. As she takes a bite, she bites nothing but air, confusing her.

"Jackie, mind showing me where my food is?"

"Well, you're a fast learner, here," I let go of the illusion.

Another bite, another wonderful taste of air.

"Jackie," she sounds more irritated now.

"Fine, here."

Not convinced, she moves a paw around the bowl, and then accidently hitting the bowl.

"I can do this all day if I wanted to, but I'm still tired so lucky you."

"As if."

Eating through breakfast, we head to the gym, the rain already making me drenched just a few minutes of being out. When we get into the gym, I'm already making a puddle on the floor. While as the others are having a nice time in their Pokeballs.

"Couldn't you have kept me in the Pokeball till we got here?"

"Well, I guess I should've, here," Caitlyn tosses a towel onto my face.

"Well thanks," I reply, as I start to dry my fur as best as I can.

"Ah, I see that you have returned again, Peter. I assume you have gotten stronger?" a pleasant voice asks.

"Yup, though I still have no clue how you defeated me the first time, Burgh."

"That doesn't matter too much, come on, let's just head to the arena, since you already went through the maze. And I'm sure your friend wouldn't like to get sticky."

"Thanks, Burgh."

"What maze? Can I go through it?" Caitlyn eagerly asks.

"Unless you want to be sticky in honey, you can."

"Uhh I change my mind."

"Thought you would, most of the trainers don't enjoy it. Now here we are, you ready to battle?"

"Yes I am, let's start this."

Readying up, Burgh takes his side and Peter takes his. Even though there are bleachers on the side, Caitlyn stands near him.

"Let the battle commence!" the referee shouts.

"Jackie, why don't you come out and help?"

"That goes under the League rules, you know to use another's Pokemon."

"I know that, I'm not like Caitlyn, we traded last night."

"And you didn't bother putting me in the Pokeball," I sigh.

"Alright then, go Dwebble. And I'll let you have the first move."

"Jackie, Dig!"

Following commands, I dig through the dirt arena, a little surprised to run into the steel bottom. Which doesn't bother me much, instinctively knowing where the Dwebble is, I wait a moment, seeing if Burgh would make a move. He doesn't and I strike the Dwebble, and with it twitching a little when he lands on the ground, I successfully knocked him out.

"Dwebble, Struggle Bug!"

"Jackie, behind you! Counter it with Foul Play!"

Right, Sturdy the one thing that is always annoying, a good trainer or wild knowing it's abilities...

Side dashing out the way, I spin to the left, my arms glow a faint red and black, then grabbing onto the Dwebble's shell, and after completing my spin, I slam it to the ground.

"Well, that Zoroark sure has some reflexes, good work! Return Dwebble!"

"Go, Swadloon!"

"Jackie, take a break for this, let's take care of this Toby!"

Most likely during the battle, my hair or fur stuck up, since Caitlyn starts grooming me. Which I did not want to be, and to make it a little worse, Natalia was released, and giggling with Abbie at me.

"Can you not? "

"What? Just because you lived on the wild, doesn't mean that you groomed yourself then."

"I didn't even bother to then. "

"Wait, so you didn't even wash it?" she anxiously asks, and stops grooming my hair.

"I lived in the wild, no luxury for such things in my opinion."

"Ohh, okay then, you deserve a bath when we get back, also because you smell still."

"Really, that just occurs to you? "

"Pretty much."

"Toby has fainted, Burgh is the victor of this round!"

"Darn, alright, let's go Gideon!"

"Wait, the Pignite fainted?""

"It's the String Shot, get trapped and it's mostly over," Natalia answers.

"You didn't see it Jackie? He got caught in the string."

"Well I would've if you weren't grooming my fur. Which does not need to be. "

"I dunno, maybe you do," Abbie chuckles.

"Or I prefer to smell like this," I gesture to my body.

"Why? You're not a wild Pokemon," Abbie questions.

"Well considering she's a girl, she probably has some too nice of a smell of shampoo. And also hate my fur wet, which I already said."

"Darn it, Jackie, let's do this!"

Turning around, I see the Pidove on the ground, stuck in string. The Swadloon looking as if it hasn't been damaged one bit.

"If I didn't say this before, but that Zoroark looks quite nice, the uniqueness of the hair it has."

"Thanks, okay Jackie, Flamethrower!"

Taking aim, I inhale a deep breath, then blast out a sea of flames, successfully hitting the Swadloon.

"Swadloon has fainted! This round's winner is Peter!"

"Well that was a little unexpected, Leavanny, let's go! Aright, you have me to my last Pokemon, let's see if you can win this. Leavanny, String Shot! Stick him to the ground!"

"Jackie, dodge all you can, then counter with Flamethrower if you can!"

Seeing the waves of string being shot at me, I dodge, and blasting flames at the ones I couldn't dodge. Though most weren't even close to me... just going around me... Realizing what the Leavanny is doing, I get out of the starting formation of a cocoon trap. Taking the momentary surprise to blast the Leavanny with flames.

But the Leavanny is faster than I thought, easily avoiding the flames.

"Okay, Jackie Dig! Counter it from under."

Agreeing with his plan, I hop into one of the already made holes, but making more tunnels. From the sounds of something stretchy behind, I sense the hole being blocked off. Most likely the Leavanny covering the entire arena at this point.

A few moments later, I dig back up, the Leavanny facing the opposite direction of me.

"Leavanny! There, to your left!"

Turning left, the Leavanny shoots string to it's left.

"Jackie, now Flamethrower!"

As I take a breath, the Leavanny's string finally hits... not on it's exact target though. An illusion I created as soon as I got dug out of the hole.

"Leavanny has fainted, the victor of this battle is Peter!"

"Alright, nice job Jackie!"

"Well done, now that was a beautiful batte, here you go," Burgh applauds, and gives Peter the Bug badge.

"Thanks Burgh, and just curious, do you have any of that honey around, tastes really good."

"Sure, I do have some, and that's a first that anyone asked me."

After receiving the few jars of honey, we leave to explore the city, still windy and rainy as ever.

"Hey, you think the Casteliacone place is is open?"

"In this weather, I don't think so," I sigh, still frustrated about my fur, "And can I please be back in the Pokeball now?"

"I could, but knowing Caitlyn here, I'm gonna need some help."

"Hey look! Let's look into that store!"

"Arceus help me now," I mutter.

Entering the store, it's more for Pokemon rather than humans; Pokemon attire and accessories. Not like the usual one where Pokeballs, potions, or items that help Pokemon in battle, literal ways to decorate Pokemon.

"Really? Why do you people even bother making these places?"

"Yeah! Now, wonder if this looks good on you," Caitlyn appears behind me, and wrapping around a scarf me, with a navy blue and blue pattern, "Hmm, not too bad, you like it?"

"Minus the fact my fur is wet, I kinda like it."

"Good, because I was going to buy it anyways.

"Though the only problem is that I have a feeling that it'll be destroyed in battle.

"Don't worry bout that it's a special one, made from the same materials like one in a Choice Scarf."

"Mhmm and let me guess, we have to find a bow for Abbie?"

"Oh, didn't think about that, good idea, Jackie!"

After shopping in the store, we come out with three bags, one entirely of bows, some scarves, and other miscellaneous accessories for the others. Then we continue on, for only one step out of the store, and already into another. Which takes up the entire day, until reaching back to the Pokemon center luckily after five hours. Heading into the cafeteria for dinner, everyone else is released, and are being dressed up in assortments of accessories.

"You know, that bow looks really nice on you, Abbie."

"Oh shut up," Abbie growls back, still trying to take the bow off her head with no luck.

"You know, it does, Abbie," Natalia says in agreement, even though covered in bows and ribbons.

"Last thing we needed was more fashion for our battles. What are we? Battling Pokemon or beauty contest Pokemon?" Toby yells out, also covered in ribbons thanks to Caitlyn.

"It is annoying, hey you! Why don't you tell them we hate this stuff," Gideon lands on my shoulder.

"Really, they can clearly see you guys struggling to take off the stuff."

"You don't know Caitlyn that well, since you just got captured. Point being, even with Peter around, she doesn't like us to take off anything she gives us."

"Well I guess you want me to try?"

"Yes," all simultaneously say.

"Fine, if you want," I sigh, "Hey Caitlyn, the others wanted me to tell you something about the stuff you gave them. "

"What is it? Do they like it or no?"

"Well besides the amount of bows and whatnot you gave them, they love it," I say.

"Really?"

"Yes, they do, but you put too much on them at least one or two is fine."

"True, I did add too much, well at least they work, come here guys, let me take them off for you. For now though."

"About time, I can't stand being laughed at."

Eating dinner is quite better, the center having a little more variety to their menus to both Pokemon and trainers.

"Hey, you have good looking Pokemon, mind if we have a battle?" a girl looking a few years younger than Caitlyn asks.

"Huh? Oh sure, let us finish our dinner then we can," Peter answers with a small grin.

"Okay then, I'll be waiting in the battling grounds," the girl waves, walking away.

"Wonder if she got her badge or not, and do I look like I am that strong?"

"She probably going off of looks of us. "

"Probably. Well, seeing that all of us are done, let's go down and battle with that girl."

Walking down to the underground battle arenas, we pass by other trainers battling between themselves.

At the end of one, the girl from earlier stands, waving us to meet her.

"Over here! The name's Sarita by the way."

"I'm Peter, and she's Caitlyn."

"Nice to meet you two, so mind if I battle you, Peter?"

"Sure, Jackie, you're going first."

"Sure. "

"Well that's an unusual Zoroark."

"Thanks, though she was the actual one to capture him."

"Well, since you chose him, let's go Lara!"

Tossing a Pokeball, when it opens, a Lucario pops out.

"You go ahead and make the first move, Peter!"

"Okay, Jackie use Dig!"

I still follow command and dig down but knowing that the Lucario will be sensing me. Hearing the faint footsteps of the Lucario, I attack underneath her. In which she steps back at a quickening speed.

"Lara, Aura Sphere!"

"Jackie, use illusions to hide!"

Why would he say that, but I still create a flurry of illusions of me, running around the Lucario, whom has her eyes closed, still charging her sphere.

"Jackie, Flamethrower!"

Stopping and taking a breath, alongside of the illusions, I release flames to the Lucario. Which hits her... and her sphere fires right at me. With my reaction, I dodge to the side, and the sphere hits the wall.

"Lara, Extreme Speed!"

"Jackie, Dig to escape it!"

Right before I even dug the hole, I get hit, making me fly in the air. Trying to stand up again, I get hit, the blur of motion to fast for my eyes.

"Jackie, at least get to your knees, and spin, using Flamethrower!"

Hastily getting to stand, I get to my knees before seeing the blur coming again. Taking a breath, I start to spin, slowly getting to my knees, and blow out flames. With the speed at the Lucario is going, she won't have time to react.

Not feeling anything hit me, I stop and see the Lucario on the ground a few feet from me- fainted.

Panting and rubbing some dirt off my glasses, the girl returns her Lucario to it's Pokeball.

"Well, that's some tactics I haven't seen before, thanks for the match, Peter."

"Huh? Don't you have anymore Pokemon? And thanks."

"I do, but I forgot that I have to meet someone in a few minutes, sorry!" she hastily yells, already running backup to the main center.

"Can we go to bed now?"

"No, you need a bath first Jackie, and have you traded back to me."

"Really, can we just b-"

So he now uses to the Pokeball for me, and not earlier, great. Deciding to take a nap, I lean against one of the virtual trees. Next thing I know it, I am back out of the Pokeball, and in a bathtub being splashed with water. Minus my glasses and scarf.

"So you now decide to use it?"

"Well yeah, and wow you are heavy sleeper."

"Well excuse me, if I feel safe I sleep, otherwise I react to any sound."

"Anyways, I'm nearly done washing you up," she happily says, splashing water to my face.

With her shampooing my entire body and rinsing off, when I get out of the bath, my fur sags from the water. Luckily enough, Caitlyn brought a hair dryer with her, but takes a good half hour or so before my fur dries. Only thing being is that the shampoo she used is the kind where it makes fur softer; and I hate having my fur soft.

"Where did you put my glasses? "

"With your scarf over there on the chair. Though don't you sleep without them?"

"No, they were designed to wear anywhere, anytime. Practically can be goggles if I need to go underwater," I tell while strapping on my glasses.

"Huh, that is some cool glasses then."

"Yeah, and I'm going to sleep," I yawn, and get as comfortable as I can on the only couch.

"Well goodnight then, I'm going to be with Peter for a little."

____

Where are you~? I know you are somewhere out there friend. I need you now more than ever. Please hear me out. Do not be worried. We will become g-

Waking up a sudden, I pant, sliding my glasses above my eyes and rubbing them.

What a dream... no it was just a dream I'm sure of it.

Looking around the room, the clock reads 6:00 A.M. Abbie and Caitlyn still sleeping. Unable to fall asleep again, I decide to head down to the cafeteria before the rest wakes up. Grabbing my bag and wrapping my scarf, I head on down. Grabbing food and using my illusions and ID card.

"Have a good morning," the woman bows.

"Thank you ma'am, you too."

Finding a lonesome seat next to the windows overlooking the sea, I silently eat. Still thinking about the voice I was hearing. No couldn't have been a dream more like thinking...

"Jackie? What are you doing up so early?"

"Huh? Oh, morning Peter. Had a bad dream that's all."

"Oh, well was it really bad?" he sets himself down next to me, and starts to eat his breakfast.

"No, nothing too serious. Just enough for me to jolt out of my bed. Might've been some Ghost type that happened to fly into the room."

"Yeah, that has happened to me a few times a bit scary the dreams they can create."

"Yeah..."

In silence we eat, until finishing and returning to our rooms to wait for the others. Once in the room, I look out the window, where no cloud flies in the air.

Abbie and Caitlyn wake up a little after I return.

"Hey, you're up early, anything happen?"

"Nothing, just a bad dream. "

"What was it?"

"Just nothing, nothing but my mind making me have a bad dream. "

"Ha, wrong answer, she's going to be bothering you all day now to know what you dreamt of," Abbie yawns, stretching from where she lies.

"Oh come on, just tell me!"

"Fine, just a dream about me falling off a cliff," I lie.

"Oh, doesn't seem too bad, probably since you fell out of the couch, okay then let's go and join up with Peter then."

"Yeah, I bet that isn't it, I bet it something else."

"And I bet that someone is a little to curious."

Finding Peter in the underground battling grounds, he battles another person. With Gideon against a Whimsicott. Which turns out to be an easy battle for Gideon with a few uses of Gust.

"Well that was a nice battle, thanks again!" his opponent calls out.

"No problem, you and your Whimsicott did well too!"

With him noticing us, he walks over, with Gideon resting on his shoulders.

"So, I guess you're ready to go and head on out of the city now?"

"Besides packing up some things, we're ready, though breakfast would be nice."

"I already ate, but my Pokemon haven't. But after breakfast, off to Nimbasa."

"I thought you packed up the bags. Well mind if I go and pack for you? I already ate earlier."

"Really? Thanks Jackie, here's the room key, also make sure to pack my stuff in the bathroom."

"Sure, sure. Don't expect everything to be all tidy or anything."

Walking back to the room, with my human illusion, I enter the room. Most of her clothing is packed, save the ones from yesterday. In the middle of doing the best I could to fold her clothing, someone comes in, and from the sounds, one of the people who work here.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know that someone was currently occupying the room."

"No worries, just in the middle of packing up."

"Alright then, I'll just come back to this room later."

Finishing up with her clothes, I move into the bathroom, and in the middle of packing, my head starts to hurt. Hurting so much, I curl up on the ground, hearing faint voices, but hard to hear, to focus on.

You... re about it...?

It i... m... ....ll, heal...my ....nd

B-b... all ....he ....arch w... dest...!

I sa... do it, I .... not ...nt him de...

Sir, it'll take months...

I do not ca... if it ta... months, keep him we..., and I'll s... a we...

"Jackie! You alright?" Caitlyn shakes me from my state.

"Yeah, I'm fine, probably bumped into something," I reply, the pain starting to go away.

"Well I don't see much injuries on you. You sure you're okay?"

"I said yes, gee I can take some hits, Caitlyn," I say while growling a little, and realizing what I just did, "Sorry, don't know what came over me."

"No, it's fine, Jackie... Though you did a much better job at packing my stuff then Peter would."

"Yeah, no problem. Though I'm guessing that since you're here, we're ready to leave?"

"Yup, let's get going!"

"Yeah, across a desert."

"Hey, at least it'll be better than in the rain, and you should be much better than the rest of us, with your glasses of course."

"Yeah, I guess."

Walking out of the city, past the crowded city, and stopping by the Casteliacone, we head off to the exit of the city. Taking an hour long walk before reaching the outer reaches of the desert of Route 4.

"Well these goggles we borrowed should be fine if any sandstorm comes around, though it'll be a little hassle if we encounter anything out here," Peter speaks up, adjusting the goggles to fit his head.

"Well type advantage wise, we're on minimal right now, Natalia, Abbie, and Toby due to the amount of ground types that live in the area. Gideon might be in danger too, but only if any the Pokemon out here know a rock type move. Also if there is any Scraggy, I'm screwed too, though Gideon can counter them. Dwebble should be easy enough for me. And that's all I remember about this place, so if there is anything that happens to occur abnormally, I have no clue."

"Well thank you Mr. I am the smartest here, why don't you navigate for us?"

"And have you lost in a sandstorm? Sure, I'll take lead then, just for you, Abbie."

"Okay, but the route down should have some amount of people since of the Desert Resort somewhere further, and considering part of the road that was formerly built is taken care of mostly," Peter reads from his Pokedex aloud.

"Doesn't sound too bad, and with no sandstorm from the looks of right now, I say it's a day's worth to travel to Nimbasa!" Caitlyn squeals, already running off.

"Let me guess, since Nimbasa is like a small amusement park, she wants to be there before night, right?"

"Yup, hearing of the ferris wheel they have, she got even more excited to go and head there, also she always wanted to go and visit the Musical Theater. Though I'm looking forward to both the gym battle, and taking a try at the Battle Subway. "

"Uh-huh, well let's get going before Caitlyn falls into quicksand."

"Haha, I agree with you on that."

Running up to Caitlyn, we continue to travel down the sand covered road, passing by a few people heading to the Desert Resort. Nothing but sand, sand, sand, and a rumbling from a ground.

Just great.

With an explosion of sand blasting up, everyone scatters away from the spot. What appears from it are three Krokorok and a few Sandiles. With everyone else having sand in their eyes, I go for the engage, starting out with a Flamethrower to grab their attention.

"Gettem boys, no one steps onto our territory!"

Running a little ahead, a few of the Sandiles burrow into the sand. Moments later, the sand beneath me falls, and I jump in a near instant. But the sudden jump making me lose balance and fall to the ground. Which starts to make my head hurt... a lot, like back in Castalia. Closing my eyes in both concentration and exhaustion. Slowly getting up, I get hit by one of the Sandile, starting to piss me off... giving me a sudden pang of energy... which is impossible in my state right now, everything starting to get blurry.

Next thing I know it, I'm off the ground, standing up, panting heavily, my head dizzy, and looking behind me, the Pokemon all knocked out, along with a panicking scream. Something coming off of my arms grabs my attention more than the scream. Looking down, a faint dark red and black glow comes off them, but as my body starts to give up -exhausted for some unknown reason to me- I see it on my right claws, the crimson stain of blood...

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